Thursday, December 04, 2014
Advent Quiet Thursday
Every year for advent, I leave off the political commentary for Advent. Several years ago, I started paying more attention to the liturgical seasons. Of them all, advent is the most challenging for me.
It is to be a time of quiet, of expectant waiting. I'm lousy at that! If you don't believe me, ask anyone who has been fishing with me. I want to jump into things and wrangle them and get things done. Yet, I know that there is deep wisdom in the call to quiet and reflection.
I'll have to work on that next week… this week I have my hands full in New Haven, though it is stuff I love doing:
It is to be a time of quiet, of expectant waiting. I'm lousy at that! If you don't believe me, ask anyone who has been fishing with me. I want to jump into things and wrangle them and get things done. Yet, I know that there is deep wisdom in the call to quiet and reflection.
I'll have to work on that next week… this week I have my hands full in New Haven, though it is stuff I love doing:
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Apropos to nothing, I've been dying to ask--are you listening to "Serial"? If so, I'd love to hear your opinion. I'm sure you have students who are listening. I'm fairly obsessed with it.
I am still pondering the opportunity missed if we had a ‘no pizza’ dinner policy during the years my children were growing up. Time is often everything. . .
During Advent, might we also ponder – waiting is for whom? For most Christians, waiting is seasonal; non-Christians, curiosity? - Though perpetual for Jesus as He waits for us. . .
If Advent includes quiet reflection that may inspire transformation, would not personal acts of contrition be telling? For most Catholics, the Sacrament of Reconciliation reveals continual spiritual ‘fine-tuning’ – seldom a serious transgression or mortal sin.
Add that many Catholic priests profess that those who have never heard the name of Christ must rely on God’s mercy to be saved, and that members of their flock are called to evangelize by bringing the message of salvation through the ‘one true faith’ to all – Jesus might have a very long wait. . .
If as some profess, the Pope is the one, true shepherd the wait might be longer. The recent Vatican Synod, Pope Francis’ vision of a more merciful church, inspired passionate discussion among Cardinals, Bishops, scholars and laity on many major topics of disagreement.
If “it is to be a time of quiet, of expectant waiting.” – would not similar discussion and commitment 'sustained' in spiritually ‘fine-tuning’ the differences between Orthodox and Roman Catholicism be as worthy, and would reconciliation with other Christian faiths be out of reach?
Advent is the hopeful anticipation of ‘New Beginnings’ – why not offer the Christ Child the gift of committing to ultimate introspection, transformation and reconciliation?
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During Advent, might we also ponder – waiting is for whom? For most Christians, waiting is seasonal; non-Christians, curiosity? - Though perpetual for Jesus as He waits for us. . .
If Advent includes quiet reflection that may inspire transformation, would not personal acts of contrition be telling? For most Catholics, the Sacrament of Reconciliation reveals continual spiritual ‘fine-tuning’ – seldom a serious transgression or mortal sin.
Add that many Catholic priests profess that those who have never heard the name of Christ must rely on God’s mercy to be saved, and that members of their flock are called to evangelize by bringing the message of salvation through the ‘one true faith’ to all – Jesus might have a very long wait. . .
If as some profess, the Pope is the one, true shepherd the wait might be longer. The recent Vatican Synod, Pope Francis’ vision of a more merciful church, inspired passionate discussion among Cardinals, Bishops, scholars and laity on many major topics of disagreement.
If “it is to be a time of quiet, of expectant waiting.” – would not similar discussion and commitment 'sustained' in spiritually ‘fine-tuning’ the differences between Orthodox and Roman Catholicism be as worthy, and would reconciliation with other Christian faiths be out of reach?
Advent is the hopeful anticipation of ‘New Beginnings’ – why not offer the Christ Child the gift of committing to ultimate introspection, transformation and reconciliation?
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